The Ultimate Guide To Getting Voice Acting Auditions

How do voice actors get voice acting auditions? It’s a question that many voice actors ask themselves before they start to look for voice acting jobs. And there are so many different ways to improve your audition potential.

To get voice acting auditions, the first thing to do is identify the desired type of voice. Once that’s identified, it is time to tap into the industry specialists. Look for industry contacts to help secure an audition. Then focus on preparing for the video or audio recorded audition.

Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about finding your voice and crafting it to be a noteworthy audition.

Table of Contents

Finding Your Voice for Voice Acting Auditions

As a voice actor, the first thing you need to identify is your voice. Your voice is unique, but many times you can categorize your voice or voices. Once you know what kind of voice you have, it becomes easier to develop your voice and craft your skills.

The following is a list of characteristics for different types of voices:

Deep voice: resonant, low voice with a lot of power and depth.
High pitch voice: a breathless voice that can be squeaky at times and can sound like it belongs to a young girl
Husky voice: a throaty voice which is often the result of smoking or using too much alcohol
Nasal voice: a voice with no bass and a nasally sound. This type of voice can also be high pitched
Raspy voice: a crackly and dry voice that’s often the result of smoking

After identifying your voice, you want to make sure it matches the desired voice character in auditions. Maybe you need to develop a more distinct or clear sound. Maybe you need to lower the voice or add more bass.

Getting to Know Your Voice for Auditions

Getting to know your voice and its capabilities is crucial for securing auditions. It is important to get to know your voice so you can pick and choose auditions that are right for you or be able to convey your goals to an agent.

You can practice getting to know your voice by doing the following:

Practicing by yourself: for some actors, it is best to practice their voices at home so they can get into the right mindset while maintaining privacy.
Read out loud: this helps you create more dynamic sounds to a story with character building. It is also possible for voice actors to record their voices as they read scripts aloud.
Voice acting classes: voice acting courses are a great way to improve your voice and learn about voice acting.
Voice coaching: a voice coach can help you to learn about the voice and improve your voice. Voice coaches are also helpful for those who have difficulty speaking English or want to train their voices in specific accents.
Voice exercises: do vocal warm-ups or voice training before auditions
Voice recording apps: to keep track of your voice and its progress. Voice recordings are especially helpful when you’re in a different environment with new people, places, and animals.

Now you have a basic grasp of how to define your voice or how to interpret what voice directors want for a specific script.

Using the Industry to Your Advantage for Auditions

Voice actor resources in the industry include agents, managers, software, friends, and voice acting coaches, which we describe in detail in the following list:

Agency: if you need help finding auditions, negotiating contracts, providing coaching services, then an agent would be the perfect choice for that client. Agents work as middlemen between you and casting directors, which mean agents will send in your audition tape directly to those casting directors instead of you having to do all the legwork
Coach: you can also look into getting coaching services from industry professionals who teach others how the voice acting business works and give you advice and tips on how to get better at voice acting.
Friends: voice acting/voice actors should start by networking with friends in their area because it’s more likely for these voice actors to know of any auditions that are coming up or what other clients may be looking to hire a voice actor
Software: there is no right or wrong voice acting software because everyone has different preferences when it comes to how they record themselves while voicing project recordings that they are cast in. Some people may use Adobe Audition which offers free trials
Voice acting agents: voice actor agents are looking for voice actors with unique voices and the skills to deliver great performances.
Voice acting managers: voice acting managers help their clients find auditions, negotiate contracts, provide coaching services, and more.

Having professionals on your side to advocate for you and mentor you will help you move further in the field. They can also coach you about what amateur mistakes to avoid.

Simple Mistakes to Avoid When Voice Acting

Common mistakes that voice actors make when auditioning include not understanding what type of role they are striving for in the industry.

Understanding voice acting can be difficult, and many skills can only come with time and practice.

The following are common mistakes you want to avoid when you are voice acting:

You keep thinking you will get a big break without social media or an online presence. – Showing the clients what type of voice acting work you are interested in is crucial for your success as a voice actor. The more potential roles you list on your profile page means casting directors will be able to see which types of opportunities will best suit you.
You do not take the time to discuss how auditions work with your agent or others. – Voice actors also make the mistake of not understanding how voice-acting auditions work. Voice acting is often done in a studio, and your voice acting audition will be recorded for playback to clients who may or may not already know what they want from you.
You practice minimally because “Really. How hard can reading be?” – Voice actors should always practice from the script to ensure they understand the script and can deliver it effectively. The voice acting auditions are no different from an on-camera audition, so you need to take time to prepare by researching what projects are currently in production for voice actors

Now that you are aware of some voice acting mistakes, you can take the time to hone your skills and practice professionalism.

The Best Software for Editing Voice Acting Auditions

The voice acting sector is an ultra-competitive industry, and, as such, you need to know how voice acting auditions work.

There is software that improves these types of auditions, such as Adobe Audition. This software allows users to voice over and voice act more effectively than they would be able to do without it. Auditioning is a skill that you can’t just pick up overnight, so if you want the best voice acting software available, then Adobe Audition might be for you.

As you prepare for voice acting auditions, Adobe Audition software allows you to do all of the following:

Add sound effects
Easily reduce background noise
Mix and master your audio
Record your podcasts
Restore damaged or poor quality audio
Use a combo multi-track, waveform, and spectral display

Editing can be very important when doing voice acting and submitting auditions. There are voice acting software programs that can help you submit the best auditions, like Adobe Audition.

Adobe Audition is a voice-over and voice-acting program that allows users to use their voices more effectively. It can be used for:

Voice acting
Voice-overs
Podcasting
Mixing

These are just some of the benefits of using this tool when submitting auditions for voice-acting roles in any scenario.

You will find it easy to edit with its high-performance editing layout. This layout enables you to tweak the vocals without harming other aspects of the sound, such as the quality of another person’s audio in the same file.

Getting Ready For A Recorded Audition

Many times when you submit your voice acting auditions, it is a pre-recorded file that you submit to a company. This is an audition that you will submit in the hopes of booking voice acting jobs and getting voice acting work.

The company may ask for your voice as part of an application process, but it’s not guaranteed they’ll choose you based on your recording. This means you have to stand out. And to stand out, you must do the following:

Get rid of background noise and other sounds that might distract the listener from listening to you.
Get your voice warmed up. Take a few deep breaths and make some noises to get your voice ready for reading sentences, lyrics, or other voice acting work.
Make your voice sound as great as possible.

Once when you’re all set up, it’s time to:

Position yourself in a quiet space or be cognizant of any noises around you while recording.
Record yourself in sections of about 30 seconds each. You can break this down into smaller chunks if needed.

Pro Tip: It’s best not to go too long without pausing, so you don’t lose focus on what you’re saying.

Repeat the process until all of the scripts are recorded – remember again that scripts should be broken down into tracks by sound effect with specific directions given for when those effects are used in conjunction with spoken words to create realistic sounding animations or films. This means that one take will include background music while another won’t have any music accompanying it.

By following the above steps, this is a surefire way to prepare a quality voice acting audition via studio recording. But you may also need to prepare for a video audition, which can be common in some sectors.

Prepping For A Video Audition

With voice acting, there are also video auditions which will require some time and research on your part. You should do this preparation before submitting a digital audition or showing up to an in-person audition.

Voice acting talent will typically submit their voice clips using YouTube as well as Vimeo, but with video auditions, the process may vary slightly depending upon what’s required in terms of the formatting required by the company you are working with.

Remember, when you prep for a video audition, you should do the following:

Keep it short – The script should be well written and easy to read, not too long but also not short enough that it doesn’t fully capture your voice acting skills.
Use the proper equipment – For this type of audition, you may have some flexibility as to what microphone or webcam equipment is used – though if specific requirements are given as part of the audition, they must be followed closely for consideration in an industry where auditions can easily go unfulfilled because of simple technical details like poor quality recordings or camera clarity.
Use the right language – You will need to create a video in the appropriate language, whether it be English, Spanish, or another language. But you should also focus on the dialects. If your character is from a specific region, make sure you reflect that range in your audition.

If your voice acting audition is via a live video stream instead of a pre-recorded video, then you should do the following:

Pay attention to your surroundings – Voice acting is a true performance. Make sure you’re comfortable with what your voice sounds like in the environment where you are streaming if it happens to be without your home studio recording equipment.
Practice before going live – You should do an audio-only read-through first thing in the morning before getting ready for voice acting jobs or auditions that day so that by the time you start reading later on in the day during a video chat session, there are no hiccups.
Prepare and rehearse your voice – The best voice actors spend hours, even days, practicing their readings so that when they get to the audition room, it is a natural performance without hesitation or stuttering. This investment of time in preparation will pay off; you’ll be able to nail the audition more often than not because with practice comes confidence in what you’re doing which translates into better performances on auditions as well as at work after booking a job.
Use headphones for voice acting auditions when possible – If at all possible, always use wired or wireless headsets during auditions so as not to lose any of the sound quality due to interference from interruptions or unpredictable background noises.

A well-organized and prepared voice actor will do better than one who has not put in that preparatory work because you’ll be able to focus more easily on other aspects of their performance without having to worry about forgetting your lines or where you are supposed to make deliveries in memorized scripts.

The best part is that not all auditions require you to be in front of a camera, so as a voice actor, you can make your recordings or use the voice work you have done for other purposes.

How to Secure A Voice Acting Audition

When you are on your way to becoming a voice actor, you need to secure multiple auditions to get voice acting jobs.

This is one of the hardest voice acting auditions tips because you have to be ready and organized when it comes to voice work, but once you do, your voice will start getting more attention than before.

Have A Good Attitude

A voice actor who has a good reputation for delivering high-quality vocal performances often gets asked back again without going through an audition process at all.

The best way to get voice acting auditions is by being the following:

Approachable
Friendly
Professional

This type of demeanor is needed in everything that you do.

Be Present on Social Media

Another voice acting auditions tip is to make sure that you are following voice actors on social media.

This will help build a relationship with the voice acting community and also get your name out there as someone who would be up for an audition when prospects need one.

It’s always better to stay in touch rather than send someone a message about how great their work is. You want to build relationships, and it might not go over well if your message comes across too strong or asks for something before that person has time to reply or even get to know you.

Stay Aware of the Needs of the Industry

The voice acting industry is constantly evolving, and new trends are always coming out. Keeping up with this will help you find the auditions that best suit your voice type or skillset.

There’s a lot of great advice for those who want to get into voice acting, but it can be hard to remember everything at once!

Find an Agent or Company to Represent You

The best way you can guarantee to get voice acting auditions is by using an agent or agency to represent you as a voice actor.

A reputable agent has established relationships with voice-acting casting directors, auditions, and agents that you wouldn’t be able to get on your own.

Agents are the voice actor’s best friends because they can do things like set up appointments for auditions or find a voice talent when an audition is canceled at the last minute. Agents know what type of voice actors are needed in each project, so it’ll help increase your chances of getting cast if you have one!

Sometimes people worry about paying fees upfront but then being left without work; that they won’t make any money back from their investment in hiring an agent. To be realistic, you won’t likely immediately land jobs and make money. However, there are many ways to invest in yourself as a voice artist where these risks are much lower.

Invest in Yourself for Auditions

To make the risk lower, voice actors can invest in voice training, voice acting demos, and websites. It’s important to note that these investments are not for the faint of heart, but with hard work, you will reap the benefits eventually.

Use the following to increase your chances of getting voice acting auditions:

Voice acting demos – Voice acting demos are a great way for potential clients to hear what you sound like
Voice acting training – get voice training from an experienced voice actor or coach
Voice actor websites – a good voice actor’s website will list all the current and past projects you have worked on to give you more exposure to the company you are looking to be represented by

The voice acting auditions are a great way for potential clients to hear what you sound like. And investing in your voice acting is important if you want to be successful.

Practice Your Voices For Stronger Auditions

There are a few different types of voices you should practice as you prepare for a voice acting audition.

Practice various voice acting scripts so you can get a feel for how different emotions are read and should sound.
Practice for auditions by reading a script into your phone or laptop microphone, recording it, and then listening back on headphones. This will help you and/or your coach identify areas you can make stronger or more effective.

The following are the different voices you can practice preparing for strengthening your auditions:

News anchor or television voice – This voice type has an authoritative yet friendly tone which should include vocal strength and clarity with some nasality. Your breaths must be natural, so you don’t lose the flow when speaking lines out loud.
The announcer voice – This type of voice is for radio shows or television commercials that are more conversational than authoritative, like those listed above. This is a great voice to practice clear dictation. You can sound warmer in your delivery than other voices, which you may have been practicing up until now
The average voice – this type of voice is for any work that’s not necessarily a commercial or an announcement. It can be used in video games, film, and television programs where the voice will act as part of the story-telling process.
The character voice – these types of voices are usually for cartoons or anime, which need very distinct traits so as not to confuse viewers with similar-sounding characters. These voices can also be used for any video game where there’s an animated sprite involved.
The storyteller voice – This voice should be eager and excited, with a slightly authoritative tone. This voice should sound upbeat and energetic when reading lines to the audience or listeners.
The teacher voice – This voice should be stern and commanding, sometimes with a low pitch. So, this voice can be helpful when acting for a scene where you are even simply giving instructions or guiding others.

Voice acting requires a lot of the same skills as a traditional actor would need for work in film. This is especially true in the sense that in that the voice actor needs to be able to convey emotion.

If you’re playing a character, then it’s critical to be able to identify which type of voice would suit it well if you were trying to match their tone and personality.

Voice Acting and Emotions

While doing voice acting work, your gestures and body language don’t have much use, but instead, more emotional speaking will help bring life into your words.

However, it can be challenging because listeners won’t always know exactly how you feel from just hearing your voice alone.

As a voice actor, this means you must work on adding inflections and personality to your voice to convey feelings in the form of words and sound. This can also be done in post-production using voice modulation to affect levels of voice, such as a low voice or an angry voice.

Voice actors can also use slow, drawn-out speech patterns for scenes that are suspenseful or emotional and quick sentences with fast delivery when the character is being comedic.

The voice actor must be mindful not to create any type of pattern in their voices. You do not want to become too predictable, which makes listeners tune you out as this type of speaking ends up sounding fake and robotic.

Emotion in your voice acting is important because it can be something that would weed you out of the running for a part at an audition or can make you stand out as the best possible choice.

Simply changing up your inflections and pacing will keep people engaged and have the casting directors drawn into your dialogue.

**In Summary: You Can Get Voice Acting Auditions**

It may seem daunting to harness your voice and secure voice acting auditions, but do not fret. There are many voice acting resources available to help you polish your voice and get a casting director’s attention at your next audition.

You can voice act for:

A video game
Animation
Audiobook
Commercial
Movie

Regardless of your voice acting method preference and skillset, there are plenty of opportunities for your audition. Voice acting is an art form that takes some time to perfect, but with our guide, you will find success in the industry!

https://www.voices.com/help/beginners-guide-to-voice-acting/auditioning-from-home

https://www.voices.com/help/ultimate-guide-to-hiring-voice-actors/selecting-a-voice-actor-for-your-project

https://www.voices.com/help/beginners-guide-to-voice-acting/recognizing-your-talent

https://bunnystudio.com/blog/library/voice-over/the-complete-guide-to-getting-voice-acting-agents/